Dirigible



July 27, 1937. E. JACOBS 2,088,062

v DIRIGIBLE Filed Jan. 18, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet l July 27, 1937. E. JACOBS 2,088,062

DIRIGIBLE Filed Jan. 18, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 E. JACOBS July 27, 1937.

DIR IGIBLE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Jan. 18, 1957 ERNEST JACOB Patented Jul 27, 1937 r T OFFICE DIRIGIBLE.

Ernest Jacobs, GratomfCalif. Application January 18, 1937, Serial No. 121,031

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in dirigible aircraft wherein a horizontally disposed balloon operates'in conjunction with an aeroplane body, including wings and propelling means, slidably mounted for longitudinal movement upon said balloon and also with improved means upon said'body for detachably and slidably engaging and operating suitable steering mechanism upon said balloon, to facilitate ascent and descent thereof.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved dirigible.

Another object is to provide a new and improved dirigible having improved means for facilitating rapid ascent and descent of said dirigible.

A further object is to provide a new and improved device of the character set forth having improved means for quickly and easily transshipping a sustaining balloon to a substitute aeroplane body, with wings and propellingmeans, a body to a substitute balloon, in case either balloon or body should be unfit for immediate flight.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improved device disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the present application, and in which Fig. 1 is a partly broken plan View of my improved device;

Fig. 2 is a partly broken side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional View of the balloon disclosing the manner in which the aeroplane body is slidably mounted upon the balloon;

Fig. 5 is a broken sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4 in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 6 is a broken bottom plan view of the rear portion of the sustaining balloon.

Referring to the drawings:

The numeral l is used to designate in general a horizontal balloon preferably rectangular in cross section and comprising a tubular supporting frame 2 supporting a plurality of inner gas compartments or bags 3 and a suitable covering or sheath 4.

The balloon l is provided at one end with the usual vertical and horizontal rudders 6 and "i, respectively. Longitudinally disposed channels .8 and 9 are operatively connected to the rudders 6 and 1, respectively, and are pivotally mounted for lateral movement upon the balloon l to actuate said rudders, by means of a plurality of links H, each of said links I I having one end pivotally connected to the tubular frame 2 of said balloon H and the other end pivotally connected to its respective channel 8 or 9, as the case may be.

' An aeroplane body l2, including wings M and propelling means 56, is provided with a horizontally disposed central well oraperture H to engage the balloon I, said well if being provided in the corners thereof with inclined and grooved sheaves 68 for engaging the tubular structure 2 at the corners'of said balloon i, wherebysaid body l2 may be slidably and detachably mounted upon said balloon I, as disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.

The aeroplane body I2 may be provided with a passenger or freight compartment 19 and a control room 2|.

Extending into the Well of the body I2 I have provided a pair of shoes 22 and 23, beveled at both ends and detachably and slidably engaging the channels 8 and 9 of the vertical and horizontal rudders 6 and 1 respectively. A pair of gears 28 within the control room 2i also extend into the well I! and there engage a pair of longitudinally disposed racks 29 secured preferably upon the bottom of the balloon l, as disclosed in Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings. Pinions 3i mesh with the gears 28 and are connected to a source of power 32 by means of which said gears 28 may be rotated to move the racks 29 and balloon l relatively to said body l2 to alter and. retain the longitudinal position of the aeroplane body l2 upon said balloon l.

Each shoe 22 and 23 is provided with a suitable independent extension 26 and 21 respectively,

which extensions extend into. the interior of the control room 2! by means of which either shoe may be moved to in turn actuate its respective channel and the rudder connected thereto.

Suitable landing bear 34 may be provided to horizontally support the dirigible when not in flight.

In operation:

In order to quickly ascend, either in taking off or in flight, the gears 28 are rotated by the pinions 3! and source of power 32, to move the racks 29 and balloon l forwardly, as disclosed in dotted lines in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The preponderance of buoyancy will therefore be in advance of the ground or in climbing to a higher altitude when in flight.

When the desired altitude has been attained, the direction of rotation of the gears 28 is reversed and the aeroplane body i2 and balloon I is restored to horizontal position and sustained in such position by engagement of the gears 28 with their respective racks 29.

For descending the body I2 is moved forwardly on the balloon I until the weight of said body sufficiently depresses the forward end of the balloon I to provide the requisite downward inclination of the craft for the required descent.

Should either the body l2, with its propelling mechanism become temporarily or otherwise unfit for immediate flight, a new balloon may be easily substituted by the simple expedient of operating the gears 28 to expel the balloon i from the well I! and onto a suitable carriage, not shown, or into the well of a similar aeroplane body arranged in tandem with the present body. Or the balloon may be similarly transshipped into a substitute aeroplane body in case the present body is, for any reason, unfit for immediate flight.

Having described my invention I claim 1. A dirigible comprising a horizontally disposed balloon; horizontal and vertical rudders hingedly mounted on said balloon; a longitudinally disposed channel pivotally mounted for lateral movement upon one side of said balloon and pivotally connected to one of said rudders; a second longitudinally disposed channel pivotally mounted upon said balloon and pivotally connected to the other rudder; an aeroplane body, including wings and propelling means, slidably mounted for longitudinal movement upon said balloon; means upon said body for moving said body longitudinally upon said balloon; and shoes operatively connected to and operable from said body for slidably and detachably engaging said channels for moving the same, independently of each other to operate either rudder.

2. A dirigible comprising a horizontal balloon; horizontal and vertical rudders pivotally mounted upon one end of said balloon; a pair of longitudinally disposed channels pivotally mounted upon said balloon and operatively connected to said horizontal and vertical rudders, respectively; an aeroplane body, including wings and propelling means, slidably and detachably mounted upon said balloon for longitudinal movement thereon; means mounted upon said body and operable therefrom for moving said body longitudinally upon said balloon; and shoes slidably and detachably engaging said channels and operable from said body for moving said channels and rudders connected thereto.

ERNEST J ACOBS. 

